So You Think You Can Dance 4: Jessica Gives Up
According to the news storming the Internet yesterday (which is why I’m only writing about it now — I like to wait until the other gazillion websites get these so-called “breaking news flashes” out of their rush-to-be-first system), So You Think You Can Dance contestant Jessica King has suffered an injury so major, she must leave the show right now, just days after earning a spot as a finalist in the coveted Top 10.
Observant viewers know otherwise, however. The real news is that Jessica has finally buckled under the constant criticism she received each week after every performance because she had the great (mis)fortune to be paired with William Wingfield, a male dancer who is clearly much more accomplished than she is.
There’s no shame in that, though, because there are no rules that require a certain amount of training to get on the show. In fact, the only rule is basically if you think you can dance (hence the title), try out, and if the judges don’t ridicule you off the stage and keep moving you along, you might eventually end up on TV.
Now that the remaining dancers have made it through several exhausting preliminary stages, they will no longer have regular partners. Instead, partners will be assigned at random, which means nobody will have the safety net of a familiar partner any longer.
Methinks Jessica was probably — and correctly — afraid that her luck of the draw wouldn’t prove as lucky as her steady match-up with William was, which would expose her to even more soul-shattering abuse from the judges when her shortcomings inevitably become even more visible.
Jessica’s replacement is last week’s loser Comfort Fedoke, a stronger individual made that way by having to endure being in the Bottom Three week after week after week. I’ve always said the dancers who never experience disfavor are actually at a disadvantage because they lose out on some very important lessons, such as learning how to cope with rejection and being forced to make the best of a difficult situation.
Viewers and Comfort know she’s not the best dancer this season. But she also knows when to jump at the opportunity to have another go at performing since the competition’s more about artistry and self-improvement than winning and having everyone like you. Apparently, Jessica doesn’t realize that yet, which is too bad … for her. I hope she recovers from her “injury” quickly and goes on to have a successful dance career.
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